Ted Lerner: "We're excited for the Baker era to begin"

A few hours after attending a press conference introducing his ballclub's new manager, Nationals managing principal owner Theodore Lerner offered some rare public comments. Lerner, 90, was honored with the Urban Land Institute's lifetime achievement award at the National Building Museum on Thursday night.

"When they originally told me I would be receiving this honor, they were kind enough to schedule the dinner for November, thinking that I and the Nationals would be busy in late October," Lerner joked as he began his acceptance speech.

Lerner became one of the country's wealthiest real estate moguls after graduating from George Washington University Law School. The D.C. native founded Lerner Enterprises in 1952 and boasts Tysons Corner and the Dulles Town Center as two of his many successful property developments. Along with his family, Lerner purchased the Washington Nationals in 2006.

"Even the challenges of owning the team are a joy because. over 70 years ago. I ushered Senator games at Griffith Stadium," Lerner said. "I couldn't afford the admission price, which was about 25 cents at the time. I never could've dreamed of owning a baseball team. And I never could've imagine over my life that I would build over 200 million square feet of commercial and residential space and that very few people would know my name. I guess I have a different approach to real estate development than Donald Trump. And I'm fine with that."

Lerner alluded to the Nationals' struggles this past season in his opening remarks.

"As you can imagine, I've come to believe in the words of former baseball commissioner Bart Giamatti: 'Baseball is designed to break your heart,' " he said. "Of course, I also believe the words of Bob Feller: 'Every day is a new opportunity. That's the way life is, that's the way baseball is.'"

Lerner had the crowd laughing a few times during his speech, even making light of the Nationals' well-publicized managerial search.

"While the players aren't busy right now, the rest of us have been," Lerner said. "This morning, we were very proud to introduce Dusty Baker as the new manager of the Washington Nationals. Dusty was going to be here tonight, but we couldn't come to an agreement on the seating chart.

"I'm kidding of course. We're excited for the Baker era to begin and hope to see you at the ballpark in April."

Former Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, current commissioner Rob Manfred, CNN's Wolf Blitzer, George Will. and Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis were part of a video tribute shown before Lerner accepted the award.

"Mr. Lerner has always thought and dreamed big, but executed with a world-class touch," Leonsis said.

"There were three or four groups, good groups, competing for the ownership of a franchise in our nation's capital," Selig said. "So it was extremely important. And after a fair amount of deliberation, I chose Ted Lerner. Ted and his family have done an absolutely marvelous job in every way."

"He's given the community a lot of satisfaction," Blitzer added. "You walk all over this area, you see that curly W on those caps, on the t-shirts, the jackets, the cars. People are so proud of the Washington Nationals."

Lerner wrapped his speech some advice.

"Keep building, in every definition of the word," Lerner said. "Build a better city, build stronger communities and families, build for the future generations. But I'll keep working to build a better winning baseball team, too."